[altec416]

NT

[brj]

A general Google search and a search of the Panasonic and J&R sites didn't reveal any sort of announcement.  Do you have a link to a page that directly states this?

[dwk]

It was announced a while back that the XR70 would only be available through select full dealers - ie places that had a direct/official relationship with Panasonic, and not just via the distributor.  So far, nobody seems to be sure exactly who these dealers are, but apparently J&R isn't one of them. So, all this means is that J&R isn't going to be carrying it.

I'm not sure what this means, but I'd guess for now  you'd better expect to pay full list price, and it's possible that availablity through the net might be limited, given that many of the usual places don't look to be carrying it.

[TheChairGuy]

I'd be shocked if J & R wasn't a direct dealer for Panny.  Perhaps some other reason why they aren't stocking it, but not because they aren't a Panasonic direct dealer.

Thy are waaaay to big to be buying all those Panny's (in many different departments) from a distributor.

[hometheaterdoc]

I'd be shocked if J & R wasn't a direct dealer for Panny.  Perhaps some other reason why they aren't stocking it, but not because they aren't a Panasonic direct dealer.

Thy are waaaay to big to be buying all those Panny's (in many different departments) from a distributor.

maybe yes, maybe no....  I inquired on what it would take to be a panasonic direct dealer.... minimum $1 million dollars in dealer cost sales before they would even consider me....

While it's likely they are doing enough business, $1 million is not chump change.... although if they are getting units from a distributor, I want to know who they are buying from because my distributors are ridiculously expensive by comparison.  I can generally buy things retails for less than they charge....

[TheChairGuy]

hometheaterdoc (Shane, I think if I remember right),

Is that a million overall with Matsushita, or a million only with Home Audio division?  Because between video, portable, appliances and other divisions  I'd think J & R easily achieves this.

I think J & R is still privately owned by Joel and Rochelle, but their sales must be in the hundreds of millions now.  It wouldn't take much to get to $1 million with Matsushita in all categories...and even just in Home Audio, it probablycould be achieved.  

It may be that they had a falling out with Panny for one reason or another..this seems the more likely scenario.

[JoshK]

hometheaterdoc (Shane, I think if I remember right),

Is that a million overall with Matsushita, or a million only with Home Audio division?  Because between video, portable, appliances and other divisions  I'd think J & R easily achieves this.

I think J & R is still privately owned by Joel and Rochelle, but their sales must be in the hundreds of millions now.  It wouldn't take much to get to $1 million with Matsushita in all categories...and even just in Home Audio, it probablycould be achieve ...

The son runs the business now from what I was told.  He was the one that drove J&R to become internet oriented.  I have always liked that store here in Manhattan and I've spent my fair share of time and money in it.  I do know that they have special deals with a lot of manufacturers because they move such heavy volumes of gear.  They tend to try to target being the low cost leader and volume leader as their business model.  In their store you can often argue a better price if you have seen competitors offering better deals.   I bought my XA777ES for $1800 brand new this way, way back when it was a new product.

[PhilNYC]

Something unamicable must have happened between J&R and Panasonic.  Just 3 years ago, J&R used to have a special Panasonic program, where you earned points for any Panasonic product bought there, and those points could be applied to other Panasonic products at J&R.  But now, Panasonic isn't even listed at J&R's website among the brands for which they are an authorized dealer...

[TheChairGuy]

Yeah Josh, it's been 15 years or so since I was in their store...back when I was growing up in NY.  A great store back then.  

I've found, since, that talking/dialing someone in the Order Dept. gets me a better price than listed in the catalog or online 50%+ of the time.  They're on commision - they have some leeway to bargain it seems.  I've bought lots of gear from them over the years that way - always dialing.

[PhilNYC]

I've found, since, that talking/dialing someone in the Order Dept. gets me a better price than listed in the catalog or online 50%+ of the time.  They're on commision - they have some leeway to bargain it seems.  I've bought lots of gear from them over the years that way - always dialing.

In addition to them being on commission, most of the large CE manufacturers (particularly Sony) have all sorts of very strick rules about what prices can be listed for their products in advertising.  This is why you see in J&R's newspaper print ads that usually they don't even list the price for Sony products, and on their website, you sometimes have to add a product to your shopping cart before they actually tell you the price.  Once you are talking to a live salesperson, it is harder for the likes of Sony to catch them discounting more than they are allowed.  I have heard of instances where these big companies send people to the stores under the guise of a customer to get evidence to use against problematic retailers...

[TheChairGuy]

Ah, interesting Phil.

I'm a few years out of CE now, haven't spent time in Small Appliances and Sporting Goods (now).  Each little niche has slightly different rules of engagement, I guess.